England’s path to World Cup glory just got harder (Image: Getty)
Will French people lose their heads on Bastille Day? It’s really perfect. Depending on who you ask, some people recommended Kylian Mbappé and others. He already had the World Cup trophy in his hands.
How can we stop this French team? That was the question asked throughout the tournament, and Spain answered it with great confidence. “Death by 1000 Passes”.
This is definitely a performance that should ring alarm bells in manager Thomas Tuchel’s head. Although France’s attacking power appears to be on a different level than England’s – at least on paper – the fundamentals are quite similar.
Build your team around world-class talent and have them create as many game-winning moments as possible. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembele play for France, while Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham play for England.
But that plan falls flat for a perfectly fit Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or and struts around in the middle of the park. Despite not scoring for France in the first six games of the tournament, one of Les Bleus’ unsung heroes was Michael Ollies.
The Bayern Munich man was at the heart of France’s attack, helping to press from the front and feeding the likes of Mbappé and Dembele. He was a passenger for 72 minutes on the pitch during the game against Spain in Dallas.
Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente nicknamed Rodri “the computer.” Mr. de la Fuente gives the impression that he has to ask his grandchildren how to respond to emails, which, to be fair to the 65-year-old, is entirely appropriate.
Rodri had Michael Olise in his back pocket. (Image: Getty)
By the time his rivals decide what to do, Rodri has not only made the time, he has already found the solution. Furthermore, he spotted his teammate’s running and before he knew it, he was creating a chance on the opposite side of the pitch.
In a sense, Spain is a formidable team precisely because they don’t have a unique star. Lamine Yamal is, of course, Spain’s crown jewel, but he is prepared to play just as well as a French or English player.
Even if Yamal doesn’t score, that’s fine. This is because the winger’s role relies on off-the-ball work. If they replicate this in all 10 outfield positions on the pitch, it’s no wonder they only conceded one goal in the entire tournament.
But when they have the ball, which is most of the time, their good intentions end up hurting the team. And just like in the Euro 2024 final two years ago, England would panic if that happened.
Ramin Yamal isn’t afraid to get involved in the ugly side of the game (Image: Getty)
With the introduction of Elliott Anderson and the continued development of Declan Rice, it is fair to say that England are now better suited to that kind of opposition. However, early forecasts suggest temperatures could top 30 degrees by Sunday’s kick-off, meaning it could be a long afternoon for any player in the midfield who will face the likes of Rodri and Luiz.
The French attack was flashy at times. But in the end, it was a peacock flapping its wings. Beneath it was a soft lower abdomen, which could not withstand pressure when tickled. Spain have something to be proud of, and if England can defeat reigning champions Argentina, their path to World Cup glory could become just that little bit more difficult.
